Video: Great Pacific octopus wrestles with divers' camera

When threatened, Giant Pacific Octopus shoot out an inky substance that creates an instant smokescreen. Sometimes the ink cloud takes the actual shape of an octopus, providing a diversion that allows the real octopus to escape from predators. With no skeleton to get in its way, Giant Pacific Octopuses can also squeeze their bodies into incredibly small spaces – any space larger than its powerful beak is fair game. Giant Pacific Octopuses are terminal spawners, meaning females only have one opportunity to reproduce. They typically mate closer to the end of their fairly short lifespan, which on average is only five years. Luckily, octopuses lay anywhere from 18,000 – 74,000 eggs, helping to strengthen the vitality of the species. While waiting for her eggs to hatch, the mother remains with the eggs and does not eat, staying to protect her babies at all times. Octopuses typically die shortly after her babies hatch. The animal dines on a wide range of seafood including clams and other mussels, but have a particular hankering for crabs. With their love for crabs, coupled with a sweet spot for den-like enclosures, octopuses often mistake crabber’s nets as hunting and hiding ground, where they can be accidentally caught. If the octopus kills and eats the crabber’s catch, many fishermen respond by killing the octopus. Photo — Date: 2 May 2012, 12:48; Source: Giant Pacific Octopus (Octopus dofleini) - Uploaded by Magnus Manske; Author - Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Not all is as it seems under the sea — as two divers found out during a recent trip off the coast of California.

At first, Warren Murray and David Malvestuto thought the object they were filming was a rock. But when it suddenly sprouted arms and latched onto the camera, they realized it was a 20-foot Giant Pacific Octopus.

This was bold behavior for an octopus. Malvestuto suspects it was as surprised to see them as they were to see it.

"It's very rare to see that type of octopus in the 80 feet of water we were in." (Via WIBW)

Murray told the New York Daily News he suspects the octopus grabbed the camera because of the reflections from its lens.

"Generally, they are not too interested in people. I was thinking he would take off as soon as I got close to it. When he wasn't moving, I was excited."

Experts at the Monterey Bay Aquarium agree — telling KSBW divers are more likely to come across kelp and sea urchins than a curious octopus.

"On a typical dive, it's very beautiful and zen-like, but you don't often come across an animal that impressive and unique in this bay."

After a few moments of mugging for the camera, the octopus let it go — so Murray and Malvestuto still have the pictures to go with their story.